2018 Team Previews – Red Lion Lions (3)

Written by: David Mika on Wednesday, August 15th, 2018. Follow David Mika on Twitter.

Head Coach: Jesse Shay

Assistant Coaches: Tom Bell, Chad Donagher, JD Granger, Taylor Green, Charlie Grimm, Ron Johnson, Kyle Masser, Eric Updegrove

Team Name: Red Lion Lions

2017 Record: 8-3

2018 Schedule:

Key Starters Lost: Zach Crossland, Denny Dennison, Jamel Foster, Zerick Nease, Evan Paules, Nick Taylor, Zach Throne, Jake Waldrup

Offensive Starters Returning: (4)

SR HB Eli Workinger, 6-2, 245
JR OG Jared Miller, 6-1, 250
JR OG Scott Wilt, 6-2, 210
SR WR Jason Nazarenus, 6-1, 185

Defensive Starters Returning: (6)

JR DT Jared Miller, 6-1, 250
SR MLB Eli WOrkinger, 6-2, 245
JR CB Kobe Martin, 6-3, 170
SR CB Jason Nazarenus, 6-1, 185
SR S Tyler Ness, 5-10, 175
SR S Ben Hornberger, 6-2, 180

Special Team Starters Returning: (1)

SR K Eli Workinger, 6-2, 245

Key Newcomers: (3)

SO QB Randy Fizer, 5-11, 175
SO WR/DE Devante Dennis, 6-5, 195
SO DT/OL Kairen Gordon-Bey, 6-2, 250

Key Stats: Over the last three seasons, Red Lion had averaged more than 6.7 yards per carry. In that time, the offense has averaged over 39 points per game.

2018 Offensive Outlook: Red Lion will need to replace a bevy of departing Seniors.
There will be a battle at QB to determine who gets to replace Zach Throne, after his record setting 2017 season. Zach Mentzer(Sr.), Nic Shultz(Jr.) and Randy Fizer(So.) will all have an opportunity over the Summer to win the job.
The TB position may be a “running back by committee” feel as Tyler Ness(Sr.), Alex Cook(Jr.) and Devyn Gurreri(Jr.) all look solid.
Eli Workinger(SR.) returns as HB, although he may get some breaks as Kadan Smith(Sr.) and Cole Renfro(Sr.) look to shoulder some of the load as well.
The Offensive Line replaces three departing starters. Scott Wilt(Jr.) and Jared Miller(Jr.) return while Carter Yarish(Sr.), Shawn Warner(Jr.), Dylan Zeller(Jr.) and Kairen Gordon-Bey(So.) will all be in the mix for 1st Team Reps.
WRs return the least depth, but this group has great potential. Jason Nazarenus(Sr.), Ben Hornberger(Sr.), Kobe Martin(Jr.), Camari Scott-Sharpe(Sr.) Bradley Keech (Sr.) and Quinten Lyons(Jr.) all saw time last season. 6-5 Sophomore Devante Dennis also figures to factor in to the passing attack this season.

2018 Defensive Outlook: This group will be short on experience and long on potential. Returning just one starter from 2017 on the Defensive Line, there is plenty of competition for all four spots. Bailey Royer(Jr.), Jared Miller(Jr.), Spencer Stephens(Jr.) and Kairen Gordon-Bey(So.) will be some of the names competing for the two DT positions. Bailey Royer(Jr.), Cole Renfro(Sr.), Carter Yarish(Sr.) and Devante Dennis(So.) could end up starting at the DE spots.
LBs are flanked by Senior Eli Workinger but could see classmates Justin Dillon and Kadan Smith next to him during the season. Underclassmen Quinten Lyons(Jr.), Cole Loughry(Jr.) and Kurt Keough(Jr.) will challenge for these jobs as well.
The Defensive Backfield brings back the most returning starters of any position (listed in the “Returning Starters” section), but several players will challenge for those spots in 2018. Among them will be Taylor Seifert(Sr.), Alex Cook(Jr.), Tanner Snyder(Jr.) & Camari Sharpe-Scott(Sr.)

2018 Special Teams Outlook: Kicker Eli Workinger(Sr.) returns after the 2017, in which he set a school-record for number of touchbacks in a season (18). He was also hit 35 PATs and was perfect on field goals, including at 41 yarder.

Kick/Punt Return duties will fall to one of the running backs or possible Randy Fizer(So.) depending on how the QB battle shakes out.

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